[Marxism] Dalai Lama seems desperate for negotiations with Beijing. Beijing should be desperate but probably isn't.

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The main obstacle, of course, is Beijing's determination to turn Tibet into
an overwhelmingly Han province, and thus "secure" it from India, the US, and
other potential enemies. The aim is not to exterminate or eliminate the
Tibetans -- but to turn parts of the region, which is also a country, into a
kind of Theme Park reservations where "traditional" indigenous Tibetans can
attract tourists.

This course is going to end up being very dangerous to China.

To halt it, the Chinese government must turn toward winning the indigenous
people of Tibet -- by any means necessary.

Of course, this will be hard to swallow for any who think that the right of
self-determination is only for those oppressed peoples who thin only
progressive thoughts.
Fred Feldman


March 19, 2008
Dalai Lama Threatens to Resign 
By SOMINI SENGUPTA
DHARAMSALA, India - The Dalai Lama on Tuesday invited international
observers, including Chinese officials, to scour his offices here and
investigate whether he had any role in inciting the latest anti-Chinese
violence in Tibet. He also threatened to resign as leader of Tibet's
government-in-exile in the event of spiraling bloodshed in his homeland.

He said he remained committed to only nonviolent agitation and greater
autonomy for Tibetans, not independence. He condemned the burning of Chinese
flags and attacks on Chinese property and called violence "suicidal" for the
Tibetan cause.

In a clear effort to quickly seize the higher moral ground and at the same
time poke at China's important aspirations, he complimented Beijing for
having met three out of four conditions to be a "superpower" - he
acknowledged it has the world's largest population, military prowess, and a
fast-developing economy.

"Fourth, moral authority, that's lacking," he said, and for the second time
in two days he accused Chinese officials of a "rule of terror" in Tibet, the
formerly Himalayan kingdom he fled for exile in India 49 years ago.

The Dalai Lama's remarks to reporters on Tuesday, here in the seat of the
Tibetan exile movement, also revealed that he has been unnerved by the
violence across the border in Tibet and by the increasingly radical calls
from Tibetan exiles in this country. 

The 72-year-old spiritual leader of Lama Buddhism said he would step down
from his political post if things "get out of control."

He said he planned to meet Wednesday with those who have vowed to march 900
miles from here to Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, and convey his "reservations"
about their effort. The march has been a source of embarrassment to New
Delhi. The first batch of marchers that set off from here last week was
arrested by Indian police; the second batch was allowed to continue, but
they are still well inside Indian territory. The Dalai Lama chided their
ambitions. "On border, some clash with Chinese soldiers, what use that?" he
said.

He acknowledged there was growing frustration and a feeling that his "Middle
Way" approach - no independence for Tibet but a large degree of autonomy -
had achieved no concrete gains. But but dismissed talk of any other path as
impractical.

"Last few days I had a sort of feeling, a tiger, of a young deer in a
tiger's hand," he said, in the most intimate confession during the winding,
two-hour long exchange. "Deer really can fight the tiger? Can express. But
actual fight? Our only weapon, only strength is justice, truth. But effect
of truth, justice sometimes takes longer time. Weapons power is immediately
there."

No sooner had he finished speaking that protesters outside the gate of his
compound torched a Chinese flag, shouting "Hu Jintao Murdabad," which in
Hindi is literally "death to Hu Jintao," the Chinese president. Two hours
later, they burned more Chinese flags. Earlier, monks chanted prayers and
walked in thick columns through the hills. Gory photographs were pasted
across town, of Tibetans allegedly shot and killed by Chinese forces.

The Dalai Lama said he remained open to resuming peace talks with Chinese
officials, and in an impish reference to the criticisms by Chinese leaders,
said a solution could be reached swiftly if there were "mutual respect" and
a willingness to take Tibetan grievances seriously.

There was no direct criticism of either Mr. Hu or China's Premier Wen
Jiabao, only of local officials whom the Dalai Lama accused of creating
"artificial facts." "Prime Minister," he said, addressing Mr. Wen, "Come
here and investigate thoroughly."

He went on: "Since we are not seeking independence, actually we are helping
the Chinese government to build harmonious society, happy society and Tibet
remain within the People's Republic of China, happily. I am helping them, if
they look at the situation calmly. But so far it's full of suspicion, so
therefore they cannot see reality."




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